FCC proposes action against scam text messages

Date:
Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:28:13 +0000

Description:
FCC puts forwards new rules and obligations on operators.

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The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed new rules to help tackle the issue of scam text messages, including the use of the same technology used to power caller ID authentication standards.

The regulator says robotext campaigns are becoming increasingly problematic, reporting a surge in complaints from the American public.

It says malicious actors are using seemingly-genuine SMS messages to try and gather information to commit identity theft or to steal login credentials
that can be used for other types of fraudulent activity. US scam messages

Many messages pose as communications from delivery companies, banks and
health services, all of which handle sensitive data.

The FCCs proposals would require mobile operators to block such texts at a network level if they appear to be from an invalid, unallocated or unissued number. Read more

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Millions of Brits were targeted with scam calls and texts this summer

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In addition to the technological solution, the FCC also recommends more consumer education, urging the public not to reply to or click links in any suspicious communications and to report the incident to strengthen network level protections.

The American people are fed up with scam texts, and we need to use every tool we have to do something about it, said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Recently, scam text messaging has become a growing threat to consumers
wallets and privacy. More can be done to address this growing problem and today we are formally starting an effort to take a serious, comprehensive,
and fresh look at our policies for fighting unwanted robotexts.

In the UK, Vodafone reported a 76 per cent drop in fraudulent text messages after it installed a new SMS firewall. Here are the best fibre broadband deals



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/fcc-proposes-action-against-scam-text-messages/


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